Active Listening: How To Communicate Effectively?

Escucha Activa: ¿Cómo Comunicarse Efectivamente?

Melissa Tugce
Age of Awareness

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  • What is active communication?
  • What are passive and active communication?
  • How active listening can be used to communicate effectively?
  • How important is active listening as a communication skill?
  • What are the benefits of active listening?
  • What are effective listening skills?
  • What are the 5 ways to improve your communication skills?

If you are wondering about the answer to all these questions, continue reading my article.

Communication is key. Listening is hard work. Effective listening is an important part of effective communication, which determines the person’s ability to understand the message. Active communication is literally the communication that takes place between two people in person,” Holton explained. Because active communication occurs from person to person, it’s very dynamic.

In active listening, the listener carefully pays attention to the words of the speaker and responds accordingly. On the other hand, in the case of passive listening, the listener only hears the speaker’s statement but does not respond to it.

Active listening is an important part of your communication skill set because it encourages openness, honesty, and success. When you pay attention to your conversation partner, you show that person they are being heard, thus building trust and making that person feel like their words matter to you.

Be fresh. Know that you will listen to both you and the speaker at the same time.

Try to get down to ideas and meanings. Note that words can mean different things.

Keep your mind open. Get ready for all possibilities.

Do not interrupt the speaker. Do not prepare a response while listening.

Find the person in front of you reliable. Do not do business with everyone, do preliminary research.

Clarify conflicting points before expressing your own opinion. Be relevant and vigilant.

Be flexible, do not jump to conclusions, and evaluate even if you are confident.

Successful communication may be hidden in the last few words. Watch out for golden words.

Listen actively. Identify foundation and supporting points. As you listen, draw the outlines of the subject in your mind. Choose the words correctly, understand and evaluate.

Active Listening Errors

These mistakes that are holding you back:

  • Distracted listening.
  • Impatient listening.
  • Filtered listening.
  • Selective listening.
  • Verbal-only listening.

The role of the listener is very important. Don’t expect people to present their thoughts clearly.

Types of Wrong Listening

  • Seemingly listening,
  • Selective listening,
  • Obsessive listening,
  • Defense listening,
  • Trapper listening,
  • Superficial listening.

Avoid reaction and biased evaluation of the characteristics of the speaker and the environment.

“Try to capture the emotions behind the words.”

The photo was taken by Melisa Tuğçe.

“It is very important for people to convey their understanding, feelings, and thoughts in writing correctly.”

The photo was taken by Melisa Tuğçe.

Active Listening Techniques

  • Make eye contact,
  • Take care of your audience,
  • Avoid distracting movements,
  • Be patient,
  • Be positive,
  • Treat everybody equally,
  • Be humble,
  • Be sympathetic,
  • Be patient and friendly,
  • Be informed about the subject,
  • Present the topic by analyzing,
  • Have an effective personality and appearance,
  • If you are the speaker, maintain the attention of the listener and yourself,
  • Adjusting the speech according to the person’s knowledge-culture experiences.

The Secret of Smile

  • Smiling gives you a lot,
  • It gives you positivity,
  • It allows you to be natural and sincere.
  • Your smile should be consistent and balanced. Otherwise, it may cause misunderstandings.
  • Your smile should support your behavior.
  • The golden key to correct communication is hidden in a smile.

The Communication Principles

Volunteering is effective in relationships. There are individual differences. We must respect all people. We should not start the word wrong and we should be careful.

Transfer them positively and accurately, apply:

  • Pauses,
  • Emphasis,
  • The loudness of the voice,
  • Repeats,
  • Naturalness,
  • Selected words,
  • Emotional tones.

Be positive and effective when applying these:

  • Eye relation,
  • Face expressions,
  • Body movements,
  • Sitting style,
  • Body posture.

“Our responsibility in communication is to understand the other person correctly, to be understood correctly by the other person, to exchange correct information and to empathize for a good purpose.”

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